Vehicle.



T. KLBNKE.

' VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG,28 ,1907.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES KLENKE.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG, 28. 1907.

latented Aug. 18, 1914.

ii 3 WM Q a SHEBTS-SHEBT I. A. KLENKE.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATZO)? EILED AUG,28,1907.

l ate11ted Aug. 18, 1914.

G SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T. A. KLENKB.

VEHICLE.

'APPLICATIOH FILED AUG. 23, 1907.

fa atented Aug. 18, 1914 6 SHEETS-$HEET L4 A TTORNE Y8 T. A. KLENKE.

Patented Aug: 18, 191

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

45A 1 m 0 i 9 u H nu M 1i @a T. A. KLENKE.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 28, 1907.

1,107,31 1 Pa ented Aug. 18, 191%.

6 SHEETS*SEEET 6.

Isn't-memes THEODORE A. KLENKE, OF NEW YORK,

N. '3, ASSIGNOR, BY QUEBEC 3.1733

AQSIGNMENTS, TO KLENKE CUSHION AXLE CUMEANY, A JORPQEATION G1 'HEW VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

& .1 I. ,d- Batenteo. so. this.

Application filedhugust 28, 190?. $eria1fio. ESQ 5:51.

To (ZZZ whom it may, concern Be it known that I. 'lnuooonu A. KLENKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, count, and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful inn provenients in Vehicles, of which the followmg is a specification.

My improvement relates to vehicles and especially to the connections between the axle and bed of vehicles and to cushioning devices used between the axle and the bed.

It has for its object to improve and siniplify such connections to make them more flexible and elastic, to more effectually pre; vent shocks and jars from being communicated from the axle to the bed, and to provide a nee and improved pneumatic cushioning means adapted to be ernployed in vehicles and especially in my improved connections between the axle and the bed.

it consists of the novel devices and combinations herein shown and described.

In the drawings accomnanying this speci fication and forming part hereof I have shown my improvement in its preferred form and have shown it as embodied in con Y nection with an automobile, although its use is not limited to such a vehicle.

Referring now to the speclfic embodiment or. form of invention shown 1n the acis a vertical section through the axle showing an elevation 01"" the ri ht front wheel of the 'entomobiie and its connections; Fig. 3 is a front View of the front axle and connecting parts; Fig. i is e'pian View of the front axle and conneetin gbarts; Fig. 5 is e vex tical section taken immediately in front of the front axle and throu h certain of its connecting parts, the axle and its connecting parts here shown being a. modification of that shown. in F 1g. 4; Fig. 61s a frontview ofamodified term of axle and connections,

and Fig. 7 "a plan View of the some with certain'ot the upper parts of Fig. 6 omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 8 is s'sectional side View of emodified form of ease; loning device. and Fig Qisasectwn on the] hues 9,9 of Fig. 8. 10,15 :1 vertical sec:

tion through another modified forniotanle md connections and g. 11 e-pleh yiew of the same with certain of the upper ports or Fig. 10 omitted for the sake of clcarnew. 1 will now describe the specific form of apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and In tiese figures 1 represents the bed or body of an automobile of any usual construction, 2 the axles and 3, 3, the Wheels. Any suitable form of Wheels may be used. These shown are provided *ith solid rubber tires, it being an advantage of my improved device that pneumatic tires may be dispensed with in automobiles and. other heavy vehicles.

Tin-my improved connection between the axle and the bed of the vehicle 1 employ devices which make the connection between the two flexible and elastic and which per mit the axle certain motions when riding over obstructions or' through depressions Without comniunicatin them, or communieating their. in part ondy, to the bed. the axle is free to rotate slightly or rock on its axis Without transmitting. this motion to the bed, and it free to swing Vertically and longitndinall with reference to the had, these motions being reduced in amount when transmitted through my improved connections and cushioning device, so as to make the ear easy running at elltirnes. Rigidly secured to each axle 2 are two radius rods 4-. e. These radius rods are pivoted to studs '4' fast to red 7, fast in breclzets 5 at each end or he. body. 6 represents any suitable means for adjusting the length or the radius rods. 1%. unirersal joint 8 permit-s some play to these radius rods. These radius rods permit thenxle to swing on the center 8., and thus more vertically and longitudinally with ref?- erence to the body but at the same time in these movements they rock or rotate the axle slightly on its axis.

Between the axle and the our body 1 cmplcy suitable resilient means or cushioning devices. in the form shown I have provided for each end of the axle 2. pueinnatie cushion loo 9 and also e. leaf spring. 10. Eitherone or both of these or any other su table cushionmg device may be employed for this pur posef The cushioning devices are usedteithi connections between i the axle and the eer 1% body which permit lvertieal movement between the two, so that. the weight of the body will rest upon the cushioning device and so that the axle will'be free to more longitudi- Thus {nat y end to rock cn it'senis. Thepaiticular 7.3%.?

means shown for this purpose consist of an upper plate 11, shown preferably as all flat,

and a lower plate 12 fqr supporting between them the pneumatielcushion 9. Plate 12 is preferably made curved in whole or in part; as shown it is curved throughout its entire length and has turned up or cup shaped or curved ends 13, 13, and the edges of the plate are preferably turned down as shown at 1-1, to avoid cutting the pneumatic cushion. Upon this curved plate12 I place the pneumatic cushion, 9, and this is preferably made of a curved form to correspond substantially to the curved shape of the plate 12 and, as shown, is made slightly shorter than the plate, so that when resting and not under compression the rounded ends of the pneumaticcushion 9' will be separated from the cup shaped ends 13 of the plate. The weight of the vehicle bed and body rest upon the upper part of the pneumatic cushion 9 through plate 11.

\Vhen greater than the normal weight is, brought uponthe cushion through shock or jar, the cushion is somewhat elongated and is brought to bear against the cup-shaped ends of plate 12. For this reason and also because of the curved shape of the cushion and its supporting plate, and also because of the flat shape at the upper plate 11, a greater bearing of compression surface of the pneumatic cushion is employed during heavy shocks or jolts than at other times and the cushioning or resilient power of the cushion'is increased.

The leaf spring is secured at its forward end to the car body, as shown in Fig. 2, and its rear end to a link 15, which is pivoted to a bracket 16 dependent from the bed. At its middle lower portion is bolted to it a supporting piece 17, to which is secured plate 11. Plate 11 is pivoted by means of a bolt 18, passing through two upwardly projecting lugs 19 on plate 11 and '45 through two dependent lugs 20, 20 from supporting piece 17. A longitudinal slot 21- in lugs 20-, 20, shown in-dotted' lines in Fig. 2, is provided so as to'permit bolt or pivot 18 and plate '11 to move longitudinally a slight d'stance relative to the bed of the vehicle. V his connection permits each plate 11 to swing and to move longitudinally relative to the bed. The lower plate 12, which is carried rigidly by the axle, of course moves with the axle, swinging as the axle rocks on its axis and moving vertically and longitudinally with the axle. The above connection between the upper plate 11 and sup orting piece 17, enables the upper plate 50 to ollow exactly the motions of the lower plate 12 and thus always maintain the two plates in the same relative position with reference to eachpther,, and facing each other always in ,the same way. The ,means for 5 making eaeh,upper plate 11 thus follow the l l y motions of the axle and the lower plate, consist, as shonn in Figs. 1 to i. of an archshaped piece provided with two flanges 2?), 23, one on each side, rigidly bolted to axle 2. This alrflns liapod i re 22 has a vertir. slot 2 2 11- a c:-o:= ieee rigidly connecting upper plate 11 on ne side of the vehicle, with upper platell onlhe other sine. Crosspiccc 25 divides at or near its center into two xerticai "plates 26, 26,-.separated from each other. lielwecn them lies the arch-shaped piece 22, see Fig. 4. A pin 27 passes from one plate 213 to another, and is rigidly secured to both. This pin passes through slot 2,4, and moves up and down that slot as (-rosspiece 25 moves vertically. l preferably provide rollers 28 rotatably carried in openings in plates 26, the rollers hqaring on flanges 23, 23in order to reduce friction.

By means of the above devices upper plates 11 rest upon cushions 9 and are free to move vertically with reference to the.

axle, but all the other movements of the axle are communicated to these plates, to wit: the rocking on its axis and the longitudinal movements of the axle. .These connections also prevent lateral displacements between the bed and the axle. The pin 27 in slot 241 also permits a slight rocking or rotation to crosspiece 25 around pin 27 as a center,

thus permittin the two connected upper plates 11' a slight variation in their vertical play with refference to each other. The plate 11 has preferably a turned over ed e 29, 29 in order to prevent the cutting of t e pneumatic cushion.- The turning. over in this case is of, course upward, whereas the turning over in the lower plate 12 was downward, in

both cases awayfrom the pneumatic cushion.

Each wheel 3 is connected with the axle by means of the ordinaxyy swivel joint represented at 30, Fig.2. The back axle is provided with the same connections between it and the bed, and the same cushioning devices. These will not "be. specially described as they correspond in all substantial res ects with those described for the front w eel.

The only diiierence is that the radius rods lfor the hind wheels have their pivot point connectedwith the bed in front of the rear axle, whereas the front axle, shown, has

its pivot point to the rear of the axle. I prefer the placing of the pivot point in front of the axle, but have placed it behind in the case of the front axle simply because there was not sufficient room in the automobile shown in the drawings to give it a proper slant. V

Fig. 5 represents a modification in the -connections between the axle 2 and the up per platfisdl. In this case a round support orpillar 31, carries the crosspiece 25 instead ofthe arch-shaped piece 22. Crosspiece 25 has at its center an enlargement containing n en v a a circular opening surrounding the pillar Preferably this opening is made little r at its upper-end than the pillar 31, ending a recess 32 in which are placed .uring balls 33. This arrangement accomplishes the some result substantially as that drown in Fig. 3 except that in this case there is no vertical rocking of the plates 11, 11 thocenter support as there is in the some shown in Fig. 3 already described.

Figs. 5 ;7, 1G and 11 contain modifications of connections between the axle and the upperplates 11. In the two forms of devices shotvnin these four figures eecl'i'upper plate 11 is independent of the upper plate 11 on r the opposite side of the vehicle. Each plate 11 however, While free to move vertically Witli rei'erence to the axle, is caused to move with the axle in all other directions.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 there is provided toward each end of the axle an nrch-shsped piece 34 having a. central ver- In this slot 2. pin 36 is free to move. The pin passes through two lugs 7 3T, 37 of on extension 38 of plate 11. This ticel slot 35.

, the form of this connection is somewhat different from that of Figs. 8 and 7. In Figs. and 11 each upper plate 11 has on extension 39, to'whicli is bolted a vertical bracket 40. This bracket curries depending from an outwardly extending portion a piston rod ll carrying a piston 42 at its lower end. Cihe piston rod is bolted to the bracket 40. The piston 42 Works vertically up and down in a vertical cylinder 43 bolted to the axle 2. lhe srrangenient of these parts not only causes upper plate 11 to move in every direc tion except vertically with the axle, but also provides err-additional cushioning device in the shape his deshpot to reduce the effect of vertical movement between the axle and the bed. Each upper plate 11 is connected vz'ith supporting piece 17 and the bed, in on exactly similar manner to the device of.

' Figs. 1 to at.

in Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a modification move with the axle, but so far as the rocking .and longitudinal movements of the axle ere concerned it is immovable relatively to the axle. As there shown, the plate 11 has b rigidly secured to it two bolts l i, 2H, which pass upward and loosely through crosspieces e5 secured to the bed 1. l6, l6 are spiral springs encircling bolts 4% and lying between the extensions or" plate 11 and the crosspieces 45. These serve to press plate 11 down-Ward away from the bed. lhe exle is provided with two vertical arms l7, e7 riy'id with the axle and extending vertically upward. Each urin i? has a. vertical slot 48 near its upper part. Through the slots pass a bolt 49. .This bolt posses loosely through a horizontal slot 50 in plate 11. The slotted portion of arm 47 is free to play vertically around bolt 4-9, and bolt 49 is free to move horizontally and longitudinally in lot '50 of plate 11. Bolt 49 accordingly acts as a pivot point for the axle .2 and the o1 f's 47 relative to plate 11, and this pivot point is movable longitudinally. The urrangeinent permits the axle to swing on its axis and to inove vertically and longitudi' nallyithout communicating these movements to plate 11 or the bed, except as the vertical movement of the axle is transmitted in a reduced or modified Way through the pneumatic cushion.

In order to reduce the friction and the Wearond tour on the upper surfaces ofpneu. matic cushion 9 due to its rockin movement relative to the plate 11, 1 preferably provide series of rollers 51 loosely pivoted in the lower side of projections from plate 11.

It will be iinderstood of course that ineny changes, modifications and departures from the specific devices shown in the drawings, can be made Withoutdepnrting froin my invention.

In Figs. 10 end ll, 52 is o. pet cock on cylinder 43, for" the purpose of regulating as desired, the discharge and admission of air to the cylinder.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In vehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, s pneumatic cushion interposed between the axlennd the bed and supports for the pneumatic cushion, one connected- With the bed and the other with the axle, one of i said supports having :1 convexly curved portion, and the pneumatic cushion having a curved portion conforming to the convexly curved part of such support, and the other of suchsu'pports being a list plate adapted to beer ugninst the convexly curved part of the cushion. i

2. In u. vehicle the combination of an axle, a bed on upwardly curved supporting platev connected with the axle, a rlat'plete connected with the bed, and a pneumatic cushion supported between said plates and being curved llG COIlfOllIl to the upwardly curved lower supporting-pinto. J

". in a vehicle the combination of an-axle,

being curved throughout its length am a bed, two supports for a pneumatic cushion, one support connected with the bed and the other with the axle, and one of said supports being curvedthroughout its length and being provided with rolled over or cup-shaped ends, and a pneumatic cushion interposed between the said suppoi curved throughout its length to conform to thecuri e of the curved support, and rounded at its ends to conform to the rolledpver or cup-shaped ends of the support.

4. In a vehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, two supports for a pneumatic cushion, one support connected with the bed and the other with the axle, and one of said sup orts being provided with rolled over or cup-shaped ends, and a pneumatic cushion interposed betweenthe said supports curved throughout its length to conform to the curve of the curved support, and rounded at its ends to conform to the rollcdover or cup-shaped ends of the support, and being shorter than the support, whereby when unusual pressure is brought by the supports upon the pneumatic cushion the latter will lengthen and the rounded ends will make contact with the cup-shaped ends of the curved support, but at other times the rounded ends will not make such contact.

5. Ina vehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, two supports for a pneumatic cushion, one support connected with the bed and the other with the axle, and one of'said.

supports being curved throughout its length and being provided with rolled over or cupsha ied ends, and a pneumatic cushion interphsed between the said supports curved throu hout its length to conform to the curve of the curved support, and rounded at its ends to conform to the rolled-over or cup-shaped ends of the support, and being shorteithan the support, whereby when unusual pressure is brought by the supports upon the pneumatic cushion the latter will lengthen and the rounded ends will make contact with the cup-shaped ends of the curved support, but at other times the rounded ends will not n'iake such contact, and the other of said supports consisting of a Hat plate.

6. In a vehicle the combination of an axle, 'a' bed. two supports interposed between the bed and the axle. one connected to the axle and the other to the bed. the support connectcd to the axle being curved throughout its lcunih and being proiided at its ends with rolled over or cup-shaped ends, and the other support connected to the bed consisting of a ilat plate, and a pneumatic cushion car ied between the two supports and curvediin'ouu'hout its length toronlornrto the curve i n0 support connccted to the axle and havingrounded ends conforming to the shape of the rolled over ends or cup-shaped ends of the same, and the said pneumatic cushion being'slightly shorter than the supports connected with he axle, whereby when unusual pressure is brought'by the supports upon the pneumatic cushion the latter will lengthen and the rounded ends will make contact with the cup-shaped ends of the curved support, but at other times the rounded ends will not mal-ie such contact.

7. In a vehicle the combination of an axle. a bed, and a support for a pneumatic cushion. said support being, connected to the axle and having the form of an upwardly curved plate provided with rolled over edges to prevent cracking or breaking of the pneumatic cushion, and a pneumatic cushion supported by said support and of nearly the same length as the support and curved to correspond to the upward curve of the support.

8. A'pneuinatic cushion for use between the axle and bed of a vehicle curved on both its sides and throughout its lengthand pro vided with rounded ends.

9. A support for a pneumatic cushion adapted for use between the axle and bed of a vehicle, said support being curved throughout its length, and ha ing rolled over or cup-shaped ends.

10. in a vehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, a-rcsilient means interposed between the axle and the bed, two supports for the resilient iucaus one connected with the axle and the other connected with the bed, a connection between the axle and the upper support adapted to move that support longitudinally with the axle and to rock it with the roclcinp axial movement of the axle, and connections between the upper support and the bed permitting that support to rock and to move longitudinally relatively to the bed; i

1.1. In a vehicle the combination of an axle. a bed, a resilient means interposed be tween the. 'axle and the bed, two supports l'or the resilient means. one connected with the axle and the other connected with the bed, a connection between the axle and the upper support adapted to move that suppr-rr. longitudinally with the axle and to lm'h' it with the rockingaxial movement of the axle, but perm tting vertical play tween the upper support and the axle. and connections between the upper support and the bed permitting that support to rock and to move. longitudinallv relatively to the bed.

12.. in awehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, a pneumatic cushion interp sed between the axle and the bed. two supports. for the pneumatic cushion, one conne ted \'-.i.h the axle and the other connected withthebcd, a connection be ween the axle and ting such upper plate to rock and move lonthe axle, but permitting vertical play hetween the upper support and the axle, and

relative [to the axle, and to have a slight verthe upper support adapted to move that support longitudinally with the axle and to reel: it Willi the rocking ax al movement of ci. r-nections between the upper support and bed perini tingthat support to rock and to move longitudinally relatively to the bed. 13. In vehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, two pneumatic cushions, one toward each end oi the axle, two-supports for each pneumatic cushion, a lower one connected with the axleand an-upper one connected with the bed, a bar rigidly: connecting the two upper supports, connections be tween the axleand' such connecting bar adapted to permit the uppersupports to have vertical play relative to the axis but causing them to move longitudinally with the axle and to rock with the rocking axial movement of the axle, and connection be tween each upper plate the bed permitgitudinally relativel to the bed.

14-. he combination. in a vehicle of an axle, a bed, two pneumatic cushions one near each end olithe axle, two supports for each pneumatic cushion, the lower one connected with the axle and the upper one connected with the be d, a rigid bar connecting the two upper supports, connections between the axle and such riiuid bar permitting the bar and the upper supports to have vertical play tical motion relative, to each other rocking on the center of the connecting bar as a pivot but causing both upper plates to move longi= tudinally with the axis and to rock with the axial rocking of the axle, connections between each upper plate and the bed permit uch upper plate to rock and to move udinall relatively to the bed. ln s yehicle the combination of an bed, two pneumatic cushions for each two supports for each pneumatic ion, the lower one connected to the axle auu iueupper one connected to the bed, a r gid connecting bar between. the two upper supports, a vertical piece connccted with the axle, a gin and slot arrangement between, vertical piece and the connecting bar peir inittiug vertical movement of, one to me other, the upright piece andthe rigid con-- necting piece having contacting surfaces so raped to be adapted to make the upper l pports roclt move longitudinally with the axle, rollers interposed between the ver- +Ical piece'a'nd connecting bar securedto one Md rolling upon the other, and connections ictween each upper plate and the bed adapter to permit the upper plate to rock and in no longitudinally relatively to the bed.

a vehicle the combination of an bed, spring secured to the bed, a

one carried by the axle and the other support novably secured to the spring, and connections between the upper support and the spring, permitting the upper support to rock and move longitudinally relatively to the spring and bed,

' 17. In a vehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, a spring secured to the bed, a pneumatic cushion, two supports therefor, the lower one carried by the axle, the upper onemovahly secured to the saring so as to be free to rock and move ongitudinally thereon, and connections between the axle and the upper supporting plate permitting vertical play between the plate and the axle, but causing the upper plate to move longitudinally and to rock with the axle.

axle, a bed, two pneumatic cushions, a. lower support for each pneumatic cushion carried by ,the axle, an upper support for each cushion conmcted to the bed, connections between the axle and each upper support I permitting it, independently of the other upper support of the other cushion, to move vertically in reference to the axle, but causwith the axle.

19. in a vehicle the combination of an axle, abed, two pneumatic cushions, a lower support for each pneumatic cushion carried by the axle, an upper support foreach cushion connected to thebed, connections between the axle and each upper support permitting it, independently of the other upper support of the other cushion, to move vertically in reference to the axle, but causing it to move longitudinally and to rock withthe axle, and connections between each unper plate and the bed permitting the upper pate to rock and to move longitudinally relatively to-the bed. i

20. In avehicle the combination of an axle, a bed, two pneumatic cushions, a lower support for each pneumatic cushion carried by the axle, an upper support for each cushion connected to the bed, connect-ions ,lietwe'enthe axle and each upper support permitting it, independently of the other upper s'upportof theother cushion, to move vertically in reference to the axle, but causing it to move longitudinally and to rock with the axle, and means connected with such connections for causing such vertical play to be cushioned. i 21. In a vehicle the combination of an axle, bed, a pneumatic cushion, two supports for the same, one carried by the axle, and the other fixedly secured to 'the bed, and connections between the axleand the su port secured to the bed permitting the ax e to move vertically and longitudinally, and to rock on its axis, independently ofthe bed. 22, In a vehicle the combination of an pneumatic cushion, tv'o supportstherefor,

axle. a bed, awpneuinatic cushion, two sup- 18. In a vehicle the combination of an,

ing it to move longitudinally and to rock ports for the pneumatic cushion, one rigidly' In testimony whefeof, I have signed my carried by the axle and the other rigidly sename to this specification, in the presence cured to the bed in every way except verof two subseribin witnesses.

tically, and connections between the axle and THE DORE A.

the support secured to the bed, permitting Witnesses:

the axle to move longitndinallynnd to rock EDWIN SEGER, on its axis independently of the bed. T. E. RAF E'RY. 

